installing a utility room

Allison Lynch, senior design consultant at Roundhouse, on how best to plan this space

The utility room not only offers a separate dedicated space for laundry items, but it provides extra storage for kitchen overflow. It’s important to take pets into consideration. It’s useful to know the size of the bed your pet will sleep in (remember to allow for growth if you have a puppy or kitten). Choose a place that is not in the way of the laundry machines or walkways. If your utility room has little floor space, have a designated spot between base units.

A utility room should be positioned directly off the

kitchen for ease of access, but make sure it is not in full view from any seating areas. In some cases, it can be off a hallway, near a downstairs WC or a boot room.

You need to plan for space for free-standing

appliances, allowing extra room to remove them with ease when they need to be serviced or replaced. Allow for a 605mm gap for both the washing machine and dryer, while 600mm would be adequate for the sink cabinet. It’s worth choosing the largest sink that the space allows. Ideally you would also have a double cabinet that is 1200mm, divided with split shelves and room for tall items.

An organised run of tall units is essential to house the broom, mop, bucket, hoover, ironing board and cleaning products. Also consider items you don’t need to have on hand in the kitchen – allow for a shelved cupboard for water bottles, lunch boxes and Tupperware, bags and household items. Utilise the back of doors on tall cupboards to hang items like the broom and ironing board. Tiles and resin are the most popular flooring choice, as floors get a lot of footfall. In my home I used decorative tiles with a Victorian style pattern. Not only do they work well with the cabinetry colour, but they disguise pet hair and marks. Wood is often used if the floor continues from the kitchen but it doesn’t wear as well and will show up heavily-used areas over time.

Bright lights and ceiling spots are usually the best

option for the utility room. Under wall unit or shelf lighting is also worth considering. Think about installing lights inside broom cupboards, too.

Lately, I have seen more wall cladding being used

in the utility room. Tongue and groove panelling painted in deep colours with hooks for hanging things on is now on trend.